SMAART Well-being

Under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), the Ministry of Health expanded India's digital public health infrastructure by integrating updated citizen applications, provider tools, and data standardization frameworks. Key citizen-centric additions include Aarogya Setu 2.0 for personal health record management, the upgraded Ayushman App, and the Ayushman Sarathi WhatsApp chatbot. Operational efficiency is strengthened through the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) for standardized health claim processing and e-Sushrut Clinic for digitized workflows. Additionally, nationwide healthcare interoperability is established using unified coding standards such as the Drug Registry, Common LOINC Codes for India (CLCI), and the Bharat Health Terminology Service (BHTS).

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has expanded the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) 2.0 guidelines to cover 38 childhood health conditions, incorporating lifestyle-related issues like diabetes, hypertension, and mental health. Mobile Health Teams are being augmented with additional personnel under the National Health Mission to conduct comprehensive screenings across schools and Anganwadi centers. The program leverages a digital platform to track and manage a complete continuum of preventive, promotive, and curative care for affected children. Furthermore, awareness campaigns featuring health booklets, videos, and posters are being distributed across States and UTs to encourage healthier lifestyle practices among families.

A nationwide free annual health check-up initiative for workers aged 40

A joint national initiative by India’s agriculture and health sectors designed to shift the country's healthcare model from reactive treatment to proactive, prevention-based wellness

The Saharsh curriculum is a Tripura government initiative designed for grades 1–8 to foster social-emotional learning, mental health, and well-being

MANAM Thittam is a innovative program of Govt. of Tamilnadu, implemented by National Health Mission -Tamilnadu to give impetus to the Mental Health promotion services to students in Schools and Colleges. This initiative sets up peer support forums in high schools and colleges, linking them with teachers trained in Mental Health First Aid

A joint initiative by Karnataka's Youth Empowerment & Sports Department and NIMHANS to serve youth aged 15–30, addressing stress, education, and relationship issues

Rajasthan’s primary school wellbeing effort focusing on mindfulness, compassion, and emotional skills for young children, with teacher training expansion.

Mandatory biannual mental health and wellbeing training for teachers and staff to build emotional resilience, psychological first aid, and student support systems.

Workplace health initiative enhancing wellness practices in companies across India.

Jeevani is an initiative by the Government of Kerala to promote mental health and emotional well-being among students in higher education institutions.

Educational program focusing on mindfulness, social-emotional learning, and personal well-being in school children.

Implements health promotion (physical, mental) for ~15 million students in CBSE schools through teacher ambassadors and health activities.

Free lunch program for school children to improve nutrition and reduce hunger; largest such program globally.

InLight India is a youth well-being programme that equips teachers to build resilience and life skills among government school students. It aims to create emotionally supportive learning environments while aligning with global youth mental health priorities.

Organized by the Ministry of Education and IIT Hyderabad, this conclave emphasized the need for mental health and resilience within higher education. It brought together experts to advocate for supportive and student-centric academic environments.

This initiative focuses on improving women’s health through early screening for anaemia, hypertension, and diabetes, along with awareness on nutrition and menstrual hygiene. By prioritizing women’s wellness, it promotes stronger and healthier families and communities.

Launched in 2022, Tele-MANAS provides free 24/7 mental health support via the toll-free number 14416. It connects individuals with professional counselling and referral services across India. The programme aims to make mental healthcare more accessible, especially for youth and underserved communities.

The School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP) under Ayushman Bharat, Government of India, is being carried out by CBSE, NCERT, and UNESCO. The program aims to improve the well-being of 15 million learners in 30,000 CBSE schools affiliated with the Board.

World Mental Health Day, observed annually on October 10, was first initiated in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). This global observance aims to raise awareness about mental health issues and mobilize efforts in support of mental health care worldwide. Over the years, the day has grown into a significant platform for governments, organizations, and individuals to collaborate on initiatives that drive lasting change in mental health care. The importance of World Mental Health Day is underscored by the growing recognition of the profound impact mental health has on individuals, families, and communities.

The National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP), launched by the Government of India on October 10, 2022, marks two years of significant contributions to the nation's mental healthcare system. As part of this initiative, Tele MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) was introduced as a toll-free helpline (14416) available nationwide, offering a wide range of mental health services. Through this digital platform, individuals can access telephone-based counselling, psychotherapy, psychiatric consultations, and referral services, including urgent care, without the barriers of distance or cost.

The government launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission to build a comprehensive digital health ecosystem for the country. The mission aims to develop the backbone necessary to support the integrated digital health infrastructure of the country. It provides for assisted and offline mode for the creation of Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) for areas with limited internet connectivity or hardware. Various applications such as the ABHA app and the Aarogya Setu have also been launched. The mission aims to bridge the gap between different stakeholders of the healthcare ecosystem digitally.

Poshan Abhiyaan was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 8th March, 2018 in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. The focus of Abhiyaan is to lay emphasis on nutritional status of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers and children from 0-6 years age. The programme, through use of technology, convergence and community involvement with a targeted approach strives to reduce the level of stunning, under-nutrition, Anemia and low birth weight in children, as also focus on adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers, thus holistically addressing malnutrition.

India has and will continue to remain steadfast in its commitment to nurturing adolescents’ talents, supporting their ambitions and empowering them to build a brighter, inclusive future for all.” This was stated by Shri Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary on the occasion of the launch of “Economic Case for Investment in the Well-being of Adolescents in India” report, here today. The report builds on the global findings presented in "Adolescents in a Changing World – The Case for Urgent Investment,

India's National Tobacco Control Programme enforces laws that curb tobacco advertising, regulate its sale, and ban e-cigarettes to safeguard public health. These measures significantly impact mental health by reducing tobacco use, which is associated with anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. Protecting youth from tobacco prevents early addiction and its long-term mental health consequences, promoting overall societal well-being.

Health and well-being are foundations for a country’s development. In order to achieve Suistanable Development Goals 2030, the school health programme associated with Ayushman Bharat and to encourage the stakeholders involved in the school health programme these guidelines were developed to ensure successful and effective learning enviornment and thus improve overall situation of students

From a public health perspective, the prevalence, pattern, characteristics and determinants of various mental disorders have been examined. In addition, care related issues like service delivery aspects and system issues have also been studied.

In this emerging scenario, mental, neurological and substance use disorders (MNSUDs), included under the broader rubric of NCDs are well acknowledged as major public health problems with a greater share of morbidity and disability.